Safran Passenger Innovations – a Gold Sponsor and Exhibitor at APEX FTE Asia Expo (Singapore, 11-12 November 2025) – designs and delivers the RAVE Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) ecosystem, combining advanced hardware, an open software platform, and cloud services to enhance the inflight experience. In this interview, ahead of APEX FTE Asia Expo, Ben Asmar, Vice President, Products and Strategy, shares how Safran Passenger Innovations enables passengers to remain connected and engaged inflight.
See the full APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 schedule at a glance >> Register for APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 – free to attend >>
Safran Passenger Innovations’ systems integrate seamlessly with airline and partner platforms creating a consistent, connected passenger experience and a more efficient airline operation.
“Asia continues to be one of the most dynamic aviation markets, and APEX FTE Asia Expo is the ideal platform to engage with customers and industry leaders driving that growth,” says Asmar. “As Gold Sponsor, our goal is to share our vision for the future of inflight technology, particularly around digital transformation, personalisation, and cloud-connected systems, and to strengthen our partnerships in the region.”
As well as being a Gold Sponsor, Safran Passenger Innovations is exhibiting at APEX FTE Asia Expo, where visitors can expect to experience the latest evolution of RAVE. “We’ll be showcasing our stunning MiniLED HDR displays powered by Snapdragon, our RAVE Open Platform, with a beautifully immersive User Interface, as well as some future forward features like device screen mirroring and content casting to the IFE display,” Asmar explains. “We’ll also demonstrate how RAVE Cloud Services are transforming airline operations, from content management and analytics to onboard artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that enable faster updates and smarter experiences.”
“The biggest opportunities ahead lie in AI, automation, and personalisation”
The theme of this year’s APEX FTE Asia Expo is ‘Accelerating Innovation’ and Safran Passenger Innovations is accelerating innovation through open architecture, modular design, and software platforms that let airlines deploy new features faster and more efficiently, without the need to have the IFEC supplier in the loop.
“The biggest opportunities ahead lie in AI, automation, and personalisation – technologies that will allow the cabin to adapt in real time to passenger preferences, forming a critical touchpoint in the airline’s overall digital ecosystem,” Asmar shares.
Traveller expectations are evolving rapidly and the Safran Passenger Innovations approach is centred around building an open, connected IFEC platform that integrates seamlessly into the airline’s broader digital ecosystem. “RAVE is no longer a standalone entertainment system, it’s a key digital touchpoint that connects passengers, crew, and airline services as part of the end to end experience,” says Asmar. “Through RAVE Cloud Services and open APIs, airlines can extend personalisation, e-commerce, and operational data between the aircraft and their ground systems. This enables a consistent brand experience, real-time updates, and new digital revenue opportunities, while giving passengers a more connected, intuitive experience throughout their flight.”
Collaboration and partnerships are key to driving progress in aviation. Safran Passenger Innovations works closely with airlines, content providers, connectivity partners, third-party developers, and major technology players to deliver open and flexible solutions; this is at the heart of the RAVE Open Platform concept. “Our collaborative model ensures that airlines can integrate third-party apps and digital services easily, creating an ecosystem that evolves with new technologies rather than being limited by them,” Asmar explains.
“FTE events bring together the full innovation ecosystem, airlines, suppliers and technology partners in one place”
Looking ahead, Asmar is eager to participate at the 15th anniversary edition of APEX FTE Asia Expo, taking place in Singapore on 11-12 November 2025. “FTE events bring together the full innovation ecosystem, airlines, suppliers and technology partners in one place. That collaborative environment drives progress and creates opportunities for new ideas to take shape and to connect with like-minded industry colleagues. This year, I’m particularly interested to look at how AI is impacting our industry. It is the latest buzzword, but I would like to explore where it can really add value to the passenger and probably equally as important where it cannot.”
Attendees can find the Safran Passenger Innovations team at their booth (B23), where they will be showcasing the latest products and demonstrating how RAVE continues to innovate and evolve. “Our message is simple: RAVE is built to make inflight technology easier, smarter, and more connected, delivering reliable innovation that enhances both the passenger experience and airline efficiency,” Asmar adds.
Hear more from Safran Passenger Innovations in the free to attend Expo Stage schedule at APEX FTE Asia Expo, taking place in Singapore on 11-12 November 2025. Ben Asmar, Vice President, Products and Strategy, Safran Passenger Innovations, is participating in a session focused on ‘IFEC Innovation: Taking inflight entertainment and connectivity to new heights – opportunities and challenges’.
See the full APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 schedule at a glance >> Register for APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 – free to attend >>
